Description

L: 31-38 cm; WS: 46-55cm

The most attractive of the UK's breeding grebes, with its golden ear tufts and trilling call. It looks similar to the Black-necked Grebe in winter, but has whiter cheeks which almost meet at the back of the neck.

In the breeding season this species is mainly found north and south of the Great Glen and in Strathspey. In winter it can be found around the coast, with the Moray Firth, the Firth of Forth, the Clyde Estuary and Islay in Scotland and Pagham Harbour, Sussex being important sites.

It breeds on shallow, well-vegetated lakes. It will use small ponds with little open water as long as they don't dry up completely.